Hunter Renfroe's Roof Shot Powers Padres Past Dodgers, 6-5

The 2016 Home Run Derby was held on July 12, at Petco Park.

On Wednesday, the Dodgers and Padres revived it.

Both teams combined to hit four homers, but it was Hunter Renfroe's roof shot that made the difference as the Dodgers dropped their second game in a row, 6-5, to the Padres at Petco Park. 

Renfroe demolished a four-seam fastball by Jose De Leon in the third inning that landed an estimated 435-feet away on top of the Western Metal Supply Co. building in left field.

"He's really talented and you have to tip your cap to him," De Leon said. "The pitch was in and he hit it out. It was a monster shot."

According to the stellar San Diego PR staff, the towering blast was the first home run to land on the roof of the building during a game in the stadium's 13-year history.

"That ball came off pretty hot," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts who spent a few seasons with San Diego said. "This kid has got big power and he's swinging that bat really well."

One night after his first multi-homer game of his career, including a grand slam and seven RBI, Renfro knocked in four more runs in the middle game of the series, giving him 11 total RBI through the first two games of the final series of the season in San Diego.

The Dodgers got the derby started with two home runs in the first inning. Chase Utley hit his fourth leadoff home run of the season with a solo shot to left field to start the game, and Adrian Gonzalez sent a moon shot to right field three batters later. 

"We got a lead, then gave it back," Roberts said. "We didn't play as clean of baseball as we are accustomed to playing."

The Padres responded with three runs in the bottom half of the first thanks to a two-run single by Renfroe and an RBI double for Ryan Schimpf. 

Renfroe chased De Leon from the game with his historic home run in the third that gave the Padres a 5-3 lead, but Joc Pederson tied the game for the Dodgers with a two-run shot in the top of the fourth inning.

"Up and down the lineup we have some potential to slug," continued Roberts. "Joc has put together a really nice season. To play the defense he has and be as productive as he has, he's put together a really nice season and he's going to be a force moving forward."

De Leon did not factor in the decision, surrendering five runs (three earned) on four hits with three walks and a strikeout in just 2 and 1/3 innings, his shortest start of the season.

"I was falling behind in the counts. My changeup didn't have any depth," De Leon said of his outing. "It's been a while since I last started, but that's not an excuse. I didn't execute pitches and that was the key."

The outing was likely De Leon's last, as the Dodgers rotation is set for their final four games of the season, and it's doubtful De Leon makes the 25-man postseason roster.

"It's been a great year despite it not finishing the way I wanted it to," De Leon said of his last start of the season. "It's been a blessing. It will give me more confidence knowing that I've pitched at this level. Honestly, I didn't think it would happen this fast."

Luis Perdomo (9-10) somehow secured the win, despite allowing five runs on seven hits in five innings for the Padres.

San Diego scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth after a one-out double by Manuel Margot. The speedy centerfielder stole third a few pitches later and scored on a ground ball to short that was bobbled by Corey Seager, allowing the run to score.

"It was a weird inning," said Ross Stripling who was on the mound in the fourth and was tagged with the loss. "I thought he was going to be out [at third]. He hit it at Corey and he can really run, so it would have been a close play at home. He ends up safe by a thread twice, and that was the winning run. It sucks."

The Dodgers could not do anything against the Padres bullpen down the stretch and fall two games behind the Washington Nationals for home field advantage in the NLDS with just four games left to play in the regular season.

Players of the Game:

Hunter Renfroe: 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.
Chase Utley: Leadoff home run.
Joc Pederson: Two-run home run. 

Three Takeaways:

1. What's 4 x 25? Joc Pederson hit his 25th home run of the season in the fourth inning, giving the Dodgers four different players with 25+ home runs in a single season for just the fourth time in franchise history. Pederson joins Yasmani Grandal, Corey Seager and Justin Turner. 

Video: Joc Pederson slams a two-run homer into right field, scoring Andrew Toles to tie the game at 5 in the top... https://t.co/BmO3LTV6xV — Dodgers-LowDown (@DodgersLowDown) September 29, 2016

2. Two under 25: Joc Pederson joined Duke Snider as the only Dodgers in history to have two 25 home run seasons before the age of 25. 

Joc Pederson (@Dodgers) 25th HR

Pederson and Duke Snider are only players in Dodgers history with 2 25-HR seasons before turning 25. — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 29, 2016

3. The Prince of Petco Park: Dodgers first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez, is the all-time home run leader (64) and RBI leader (229) in Petco Park history. He extended both of those numbers with a home run and two RBI on Wednesday night.

I don't know why they call this place Petco, they should call it Adrian Gonzalez Stadium ���� — Nurse Bailey™⚾️❤️ (@heartRN13) April 4, 2016

Up Next:

Dodgers (90-68): Julio Urias will make his final start of the regular season in what could be a tune-up for the NLDS.

Padres (68-90): Left-hander Christian Friedrich starts for San Diego on Thursday at 6:10PM PST.